Stand Up

To travel with such spirit at 15 to a new country all alone; what spirit does it take! Imagine, all alone without friends and without family.

That is courage that I can’t imagine (because I can’t possibly do it myself).

It takes spirit and courage to do anything of that import – with all odds against oneself - to stand up for oneself with courage, character, and consistency and to stand alone.

With love and hope,

HippoParamus

P.S. - But, America is not a national grab bag. Just because the economy is down, doesn't mean that we should lose our humanity. Immigration reform and border protection are two separate issues. Yes, we must protect our borders (because of terrorism plus illegal immigration) but does that necessitate animosity towards the people that constitute only .03 percent of the population? I base my estimates on an approximate supposed 11 to 12 million that are here illegally (those are Obama's estimates) divided by an estimated 380 million population in America (my estimate).

Indeed, securing the borders is essential. And, I can't dare to speak that I know the economics driving people to come to America - or, is it that simple - that we have the best economy in the world, and it is entirely just a grab bag?

My conclusion: first secure the borders then, second, deal with immigration reform for the illegals who are here. Or, alternatively, treat these items as separate issues to work simultaneously.